NRL could snap up dumped rugby star Quade Cooper

RUGBY UNION: Quade Cooper has been linked with a move to the Brisbane Broncos after falling out of favour with new Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn.

The former Wallabies playmaker is seemingly on the outer at the Reds. Despite being contracted for next year he has been told the Reds won't stand in his way if he's offered a contract elsewhere.

With no other Australian Super Rugby teams interested, the 29-year-old is believed to be considering a stint in Japanese rugby but former dual-code international Mat Rogers believes Cooper could become a star in the NRL next season if there was a club prepared to take a risk on him.

"I've always rated him, no question about that,” Rogers told AAP.

"I've always thought that he'd be a great league player.

Quade Cooper leads the way in attack for the Reds.DAVE HUNT

"It's just about finding a club that would be prepared to back him and take that punt and persist with him getting fit enough and accustomed to playing the game.

"I don't know who that could be ... a club like the Broncos, perhaps.

"They've got pretty handy halves and you could bring him off the bench, similar to what they did with Benji (Marshall).”

It is not the first time Cooper, the Reds' most-capped back with 117 appearances, has been linked with an NRL club.

He was close to signing for Parramatta several years ago but ultimately chose to stay in rugby ahead of the 2011 World Cup, where he starred for the Wallabies.

After a seven-year career in rugby league Rogers joined the NSW Waratahs for five seasons. He then linked up with the Gold Coast Titans in their inaugural NRL season.

As yet, no NRL club has expressed interest in him.

Mat Rogers believes Reds playmaker Quade Cooper would be a success in the NRL.BRUCE THOMAS

"It's going to be one of those things,” Rogers said.

"He might become a star but he might be a flop too, not that I think he would be.”

Cooper has no professional experience in rugby league but did play the 13-man code as a junior.